Concrete beam molding apparatus



1964 J. R. RICHARDS ETAL 3132403 CONCRETE BEAM MOLDING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 F'iled June 22, 1961 INVEN JOH EDGAR s.|u.

1'ons N R. RICHARDS ATTORNEY May 12, 1 64 J. R. RICHARDS ETAL 3132403comcams BEAM MOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22 1961 1964J. R. RICHARDS ETAL 3,132,403

coucmm BEAM MOLDING APPARATUS Filed June 22 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DYKEK. RICE JOHN R. EDGAR EDVIARD ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3132403CONCRETE BEAM MOLDING APPARATUS John R. Richmds and Edgar G. M. Dykeman,Riverside, and Edward K. Riee, Los Angeles, Calif. assignors t FMCCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 22, 1961, Ser. No.118,945

1 Claim. (Cl. 25-118) This invention pertains to concrete structuralmembers and in particular relates to apparatus for molding con cretebeams of T-shaped cross-section.

T-beam molding apparatus presently in use is often cumbersome to use andit is dificult and time consuming to adjust the dimensions of the beamsthat can be molded therein.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus formolding concrete beams.

Another object of the invention is to provide molding apparatus which isreadily adjustable to permit variation of the dimensions thereof so thatbeams of various dimensions can be cast therein.

A further object is to provide molding apparatus wherethe adjustableparts are easily manipulated.

Another object of the invcntion is to provide adjustable concretemolding apparatus which has an adjustable bottom form or pallet linerand which is not subject to excessive concrete leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottom form orpallet liner for concrete molding apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one section apparatus of the presentinvention for crete T-beam.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus andillustrates a castconcrete T-beam in the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a top plan of tons of the molding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of one of a set ofsupport-channel adjustment mechanisms.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation vention and illustrates the anism and thecable stressing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the pallet liner and the temporarysupporting mechanism attachment, with the cable stressing mechanismbreken away.

Referring to the drawings, a horizontal concrete casting bed 10 (FIG. 2)supports the concrete-beam mold- 1'ng apparatus 12 (FIG. 1) of theinvention and the beams cast therein. As seen in FIG. 3 the completedmolding of the molding molding a conapparatus 12 is made up of aplurality of indvidual molding sections 14 (one such section being shownin FIG. 1), connected together in end-to-end abutment by bolts 16fastened through and 2) in end plate structure 17 provided at the endsof each of the sections. In one embodiment of the invntion, sections 14are 20 feet long. Each section 14 comprises a pair of L-shaped sideforming members indicated generally at 20, which are pivotally supportednear their lower edges and tilt into and out of molding position underthe control of toggled struts 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The bottom of themolding apparatus is closed by a multi-section pallet liner 24 which canbe raised and temporarily supported by one or more winches 26, and whichis permanently supported, by a plurality of screw uspport mechansms 28.The pallet liner 24 serves as the bottom form wall and it also supportsthe finished beam 30 (FIG. 2) when the side forrning members 20 aretilted apart for strpping the beam from the apparaportions of twoconnected secof the pallet liner of the inpallet liner supporting mech-4 several aligned holes 18 (FIGS. 1

3,132,403 Patented May 12, 1964 tus. explained more fully as thisspecificaton proceeds.

Since a number of sections 14 are connected in end-toend relation, toprovide a long channel-Eke cavity 31, the molding cavity 31 may bepartitioned at intervals to provide several individual cavities forconcurrently meld ing several beams of desired length.

.Stressing cables, such as cables 32 (FIG. 2) are placed in the elongatemolding cavity tend the full length of the apparatus 12 and are commonto all of the beams being cast in the several individual moldingcavities. In accordance with conventional prac tice, the cables areanchored at one end of the molding apparatus 12, externally of the endof the mold by means not shown. device (not shown) located at the otherend of the apparatus.

The two side forming members 20, which comprise a molding section 14 ofthe invention, face each other on the casting bed 10 and are separatedsufliciently to ac commodate thepallet liner 24 between them. The twoside forming members 20 are of identical construction,

ber 20 are five vertical stiffening plates 42 and five substantiallyhorizontal stiining plates 44. The vertical and the horizontalstiffening plates 42 and 44 are notched at 45 to receive angle members46 which extend longitudinally of the apparatus. The steel sheet 34,stiifeners 42, 44 and channels 46 are Welded together to provide a sideforming member 20 that is quite rigid. The outer sets of plates 42,referred to.

Welded to the lower surfaces of each of the five vertical stifleningmembers 42 is a reinforcing plate 48. The

reinforcing plate 48 extends the full length of the side forming member20. Support brackets 50 are Welded at the center and at each end of thereinforcing plate 48. The three support brackets50 on each side member20 are each supported on a horizontal support channel 52 that rests onthe casting bed 10. A pair ofopposed angle members 56 are Welded to theinner end of each support channel 52 at the associated bracket 50, andare drilled to receive a blot 54 which passes through a hole in thevertical supoprt member 50 and through the upstanding legs of the anglemembers 56. The upstanding legs of each pair of angle members 56 arespaced to loosely receive the bracket 50 therebetween. This constructionpermits a lmited amount of rocking or pivotal rriovement of each sideformng member 20 at the bolts 54.

The three support channels 52 which support each side forming member 20(FIG. 2) are adjustable laterally on the casting bed 10 under thecontrol of opposed adjustment mechanisms 60 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). Thesepara tion of the two side forming members 20 is tained on bolts 62 bynuts 66. To provide the adjustment, ears 68 are Welded to the uppersurface of the The structural details of the pallet liner will be 31 ofthe apparatus f' prestressed T-beams 30 are to be cast. The.cables ex-The cables are tensioned by a tensioning 44 form the end walls 17,previously adjusted by moving the several supporting channels 52 closertogether support channel 52 adjacent each collar 64 associatedtherewith. An adjusting bolt 70 extends through an opening in each ofthe ears 68 and threaded nuts 72 on each side of the ears 68 engage thebolts 70. The bolts 70 are adjusted to bear aganst a respective collar64. Precise lateral adjustment of each support channel 52 is therebyeffected. It will be apparent that the adjustment mechanisms 60.cooperate to positively maintain the side forming members 20 in anyposition of lateral adjustment to which they may be moved.

Bach molding section 14 is opened to release the T- bearns 30 casttherein, by tilting back the two side forming members 20, under thecontrol of the toggle strut mechanisrns 22, on their respective pivotbolts 54. This releases or strips the orrning walls, 36, 38, and 40 ofeach side forming member 20 from the associated faces of a cast beam 30(note the separation of the member 20 from the beam 30 at the right sideof FIG. 2), and permits the beam to be readily retnoved. A toggle str11tmechanism 22 is located at each of the four corners of a melding section14 and each includes atoggle joint 75 and a strut 78. Bach toggle joint75 is operable to assume either an erect position as sl1own on the leftside of FIG. 2, or alternatively, an outwardly tilted position as shownon the right side of FIG. 2 (and in phantom 1ines on the left side ofFIG. 2). In rnoving to the erect position, the toggle joint or knuckle75 and the connected strot 78, raise or erect the side forming member 20and cause the inner surface of the wall 36 of the member 20 to tightlyengage the adjacent lateral edge of the pallet liner 24. In the tiltedapart or open position of the knuckles 75, the side forming members 20are tilted apart, to the extent permitted by the strut 78 and in tl1isposition the cast beam is easily removed from the appa ratus.

Each toggle joint or knuckle 75 comprises a pair of parallel short links82 which are pivotally connected to a metal block 83 by a pivot pin 84.The bleek 83 is welded to the end of the associated support channel 52.The links 82 are each pivotally connected to the lower end of a strut 78by a pivot pin 86. The struct 78 is connected at its upper end to apivot pin 88 carried in 21 U- shaped bracket 90. The U-shaped bracket 90is welded to the horizontal stiening member 44 at the associated cornerof the side forrning member 20. A U-shaped bracket 92 is welded to theupper ends of the links 82 above the pivot pin 86. A short operatinghandle 94 is welded to the U-shaped bracket 92 and provides a convenientmeans for opening and, alternatively, erecting the toggle joint 75.Mechanical advantage for operating the toggle joint 75 is achieved byusing a handle extension such as a pipe 96 of appropriate size. T movethe side forming member 20 to the open position, the links 82 and thehandle 94 connected thereto are swung outward (FIG. 2) until the lowerend 98 of the strut 78 strikes the upper face of the block 83 attachedto the support channel. In this, the open position, the weight of a sideforrning member 20 is directly transmitted to the casting bed throughthe struts 78. To move the side forming members to the erect or closedposition, the handles 94 are swung inward to the position illustrated atthe left of FIG. 2. The pivot pins 86 during erection move slightly pastthe line connecting pins 84 and 88, and the toggle joint 75 can be saidto snap overcenter. Abutment of the U-shaped bracket 92 With the strut78 maintains the toggle support mechanism 22 in its over-centercondition. With the several toggle support mechanisms 22 in theirover-center condition, the weight of each side forming member 20 and theconcrete therein is transrnitted through the struts 78, the blocks 83,and the support channels 52, to the casting bed 10. The toggle supportmechanisms 22 are so securely locked in their erect positions by thisover-center action that they will not accidentally open. The weight ofthe concrete 4 and of the side forming member itself urges the Ushapedbrackets 92 aganst the respective struts 78.

The pivot axis of each side forming member 20 is located a substantialdistance below the plane of the upper surface of the pallet liner 24.With this construction a considerable force can be exerted against thelateral edges of the pallet liner 24 by the walls 36 of the side formingmembers 20, when the mold is closed. A tightly sealed joint is thusestablished between the opposed walls 36 and the lateral surfaces of thepallet liner 24 to prevent concrete leakage therebetween.

The present apparatus is adjustable for the production of bearns havinga wide range of dimensions. The width dimension of the slab 30a of theT-beam 30 to be cast, is determined by the adjustrnent of two laterallyand ver tically adjustable side members 100 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3), forminglateral walls of the mold. The members 100 are mounted on the horizontalwalls 40 of the molding sections 14, and extend the full length of thebearn to be cast. Each side member 100 includes a channel 102 havingtransverse slots 104 (FIG. 3) therein. Three series or rows of holes106, 107, and 108 are drilled into each wall 40 and the holes in eachrow are spaced so that they are aligned With the slots 104 in thechannel member 102. Bolts are placed in the slots 104 and are adapted toconnect the guide members 102 to the wall 40 at one of the rows of holes106, 107, or 108. The connection is made to the row of holes 106 if themolding section 14 is to be used to cast a beam having a slab width ofapproximately eight feet. The row of holes 107 is used if the meldingsection 14 is to cast a beam having a slab width of approximately sixfeet. The row of holes 108 is used to -cast a beam having a slab widthon the order of four feet. Thus a T-beam having a slab width rangingfrom less than four feet to more than eight feet can be cast With theapparatus of the invention by connecting the channels 102 to theappropriate row of holes 106, 107, or 108 and laterally adjusting eachchannel 102 on the bolts 110 before the bolts are tightened. Leakage ofconcrete out of holes in the row 108 or 107, is prevented by placing acountersunk screw 111 (FIG. 3) in each of the holes. A fillet member112, welded to the inner face of each channel 102, bevels the lower edgeof the slab 3011 (FIG. 2) of the T-beam.

Thethickness of the slab 30a of the Tbearn 30 to be cast in the.apparatus, is determined by the relative elevation of screeding strips116, one of which is mounted upon each of the channels 102 With theinner edge of the strip 116 in vertical alignrnent With the inner faceof the associated fillet member 112, as best seen in FIG. 2. Betweeneach screeding strip 116 and the assocated channel 102 is a spacingstrip 117 (FIG. 2). The slab thickness of the beam is predetermined byselecting spacing strips 117 of the desired thiclcness. Bolts 118 arewelded to the undersurface of the screeding strip 116 and pass throughholes in the spacing strips 117 and are secured by nuts to the channelmember 102.

The thickness or width dimension of the stem 3% of the T-beam 30 isadjusted by adjusting the separation of walls 36 by means of the supportchannels 52, as previously described. The depth dimension of the stem 3%of the T-bearn must also be selected to fit design requirements, andbeams 30 having various depth dimensions are cast by adjusting theelevation of the pallet liner 24 above the casting bed 10.

The pallet liner 24 comprises a pair of channels 136 and 138 (FIGS. 1,5, and 6) of any convenient length,

unit lengths of 20 feet being typical. The channels are supported attheir ends and at an intermediate point on screw support assemblies 28(FIG. l).

Each support assembly includes a short lateral channel or pallet linersupport plate 140. Sockets 142 are welded to each plate for receivingthe upper ends of long screws 144. A pin 146 passing through the sideWall of each socket 142 and the tains the screw 144 in its socket.

The screws 144 of each screw support mechanisrn 28 are received intubular-wells 148 leading downwardly from the surface of the casting bed10, and the screws and wells are suficiently leng te permit -the palletliner 24 te be adjusted vertically through a-range of several feet. Thelowermost positon of the pallet liner 24 is illustrated in sold lines inFIG. 2, whereas an upper position is shown in phantorn. A nut 150 eneach screw 144 bears against a collar 152 resting en the casting bed 10,and the several nuts 150 support the pallet liner 24 during the meldingsteps. Fine height adjustrnents of the pallet liner 24 can be madebyturning the nuts 150 with a spanner.

The channel bearns 136 and 138 of each pallet liner section are splicedto provide a centinuous beam. The splices are made at end supportmembers 140 (FIG. 5) and a splice block 154 is used to join the beams.Four holes are drilled into the end of each channel beam and the spliceblock 154 is correspondingly drilled to have four heles 157 at each endthereof te receive bolts 156 which fasten the channel beams to thesplice block.

The splice blocks 154 are connected to the associated support plates 140by bolts 158 (ene being shown in FIG. 5). The bolts 158 each passvertically through the support plate 140 ceived in a threaded hole 160block 162 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The bolts 158 are of such length that theupper portion of the threaded hole 160 is free to receive a flatheadscrew 130a (FIGS. 3 and 5) or the shank of a hook 130 (FIG. 6) therein.

A cover plate 166 having a width selected te provide the requiredthickness of the stem 3% of the Tbeam 30 (FIG. 2) te be cast, is meunteden the upper surfaces of the channel beams 136 and 138. The cover plate166 has the blocks 162 Welded thereto and is connected te the channelbeams by the described bolts 158 threaded into blocks 162.

The cover plate 166 has a fillet strip 168 welded longitudinally alongeach side of its upper edge; the fillets 168 chamfer the lowerlongitudinal edge of the stem 3% of the beam. The cover plate 166 alsoincludes a pair of down-turned flanges 170. Resilient sealing strips 172forrned of neeprene or a similar rubber-like material a.re fastened tothe respective flanges 170 by several short countersunk screws 174.

The sealing strips 172 of the cover plate 166 are engaged by the innersurfaces of the respectve vertical walls 36 (FIG. 1 and 2) of the sideforming members 20 When the members are tilted together under thecontrol of the toggle support mechanisms 22. In their closed postions,the side forming members 20 tightly engage the resilient sealing strips172 and a leak-proof joint is achieved, as previously described. Atleast one of the side forrning members 20 must be in its open pesitionbefore the pallet liner 24 can be vertically adjusted. When suitable endplates (not shown) are belted to the end walls 17 of the apparatus 12,it will be in condition to receive concrete. The meld is closed beforethe end plates are fitted.

As previously mentioned, initial adjustrnent of pallet liner elevationis under the control of several manually-operated winches 26, therebeing ene winch for every 50 feet of form. Each winch mechanismcomprises a hoist 120 carried in a frame 122 that is placed laterallyacross the form 12 and rests on the screeding strips 116. The hoist 120,which includes a drum and gearing, can be of conventional design. Ahandle 124 for the hoist is operated te raise er lower a cable 126having an eye 128 at its free end. The cable eye 128 of each winchmechanism 26 is hooked over a hook 130 (FIG. 6) which, as abovementiened is screwed into the pallet liner 24. Two or more winchmechanisms 26 are connected te hooks 130 of the pallet liner and thepallet liner is raised or lowered by eperating the handles 124.

(FIG. 6) in a cover plate and the splice block 154 and are re respectiveScrew 144 reliner at the desired elevation.

In operati0n, When an adjustment. is te be.inade= the pallet liner 24 israised te free nuts 150, which can be freely run along their screws Thepallet liner is then lowered, and cables 126 are slipped ofi of hooks130, and the winch mechariisrns 26 are removed from the apparatus 12.Hooks 130 are reinoved and replaced by fiathead screws 13042 (FIG. 5).Fine elevation adjustment isinade with a spanner and nuts Most T-beams30 castin the apparatus will be pretensioned, using stressing memberssuch as the steel cables 32 (FIGS. 2 and 5). As m entioned the cablesare anchored at one end of [the apparatus by conventional anchor means(not shown) and the other ends te a tensioning machine (not shown): Thecables 32are vertically positioned at intermediate points between thebeam ends by deflecting units (FIG. 5) provided at the required pointsalong the length of the meld.

Each cable deflecting unit 180 (FIG. 4) comprises an anchor plate 182embedded in the concrete casting bed 10 and a hook 184 which fits in ahole 186 in the anchor plate 182. The shank of hook 184 is threaded andengages a turnbuckle 188. The turnbuckle 188 is mounted on a bolt 190having a head 192, and the turnbuckle is free te turn on the bolt. Bolt190 passes between the pair of channel beams 136 and 138 and through anepening 194 in the pallet liner cover plate 166 and is threaded into asocket 196 in a cable harp 198. The cables 32 are strung below lateralbars 200 of the cable harp 198 and the deflecting mechanism 180 retainsthe cables in the selected location. The turnbuckles 188 can be turnedte precisely locate and/er adjust the tension of the cables.

When the cables are properly located in the apparatus and have beenstressed to the required degreethe concrete can be poured into themelding cavity 31. After the concrete hardens, the cable deflectingmechanisms 180 are released by freeing the turnbuckles 188 from hooks184. The bolts 190 are unscrewed frem the sockets 196 in the cable harps198, which remain in the casting. The bolts, which were preferablygreased er treated for ease of removal from the casting, are notwithdrawn. T0 strip the meld, the side forming members 20 are separatedunder the control of the toggle supports 22 (FIG. 1) and the T-beam 30can be removed. The voids, left in the stem 3% of the beam by theremoval of the bolts 190 (FIG. 5), can be filled with cement mertar.

Whle ene form of apparatus for practicing the present invention has beendescribed, it should be understood that various modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appended claim.

The invention having thus been described, that which is believed te benew and desired te be protected by Letters Patent is:

Ferming apparatus for a concrete T-beam comprising a casting bed, sideforming members, each member having walls for forming the undersurfacesof the cross bar slab of the T-beam and walls for forming the sidesurfaces of the T-beam stem, each side forrning member incldinglaterally and vertically adjustable means adjacent the enter edgethereof for determining the width and the thickness of the T-beam slab,a pallet liner positioned between said members and having a wall forforming the bottom of the T-beam stem, a support spanning the sideforming members, pallet liner elevating means connected between saidsupport and said pallet liner for adjusting the elevation of said palletliner relative te said casting bed, supperting means for pivotallysupporting each side forming member for pivotal movement about an axislecated below the elevaton of said pallet liner wall, a pair of hearingblocks each connected to the casting bed adjacent a respective end ofeach of said supporting means, a pair of threaded members connected teeach of said supperting means, each threaded member being operable tebear against a respective one of said bearing blocks and 144 to supportthe pallet efect postive adjustrnent of the separation of the sideforming members on said supporting n1eans f0 r permtting the use ofpallet liners of various widths between said side forming mernbers, andmeans connected to ech side forrning member for pvoting the respectivemembers no engagement wth tbe pallet liner, sad pivoting means bengreleasable to permit the side forming members to pvot away from thepallet liner to thereby disengage the pallet lner and permit theelevation of the pallet lner to be adjusted by said e levating means.

References Cited in the file of ths patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHenderson Nov. 30, 1937 8 2,453,223 Henderson Nov. 9, 1948 2,495100Henderson Jan. 17, 1950 2,825,115 Williams Mar. 4, 1958 2,916,795.Henderson Dec. 15, 1959 2,967343 Wllarns Jan. 1(), 1961 3049,786 JonasAug. 21, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,801 Great Britan Nov. 24, 1927 OTHERREFERENCES Construction Methods and Equpment Artcle, pages 102-104, May1958.

Food Machnery Corp. Ad in Construction Method and Equipment, page 243,April 1959.

